Post by Pixx on Jun 4, 2011 11:16:18 GMT -5
This is my summer legacy. I'm just going to post it to DD.
Chapter One
“Hey, I haven’t seen Crazy Ol’ Crumplebutt today.” A young man said to his companion.
The man at the door turned around, an amused smile on his face.
“You wouldn’t happen to be talking about Mrs. Crumplebottom would you?” He questioned.
“Yeah, what’s it to you Hobo?” The teenager sneered.
Unperturbed by the boy’s rudeness, the man grinned and went over to the boys and made himself comfortable on the center table. “Sit down, sit down. I’ll tell you a story of pain and woe and then you’ll understand why the old woman is so grouchy.” Before the boys could protest, the man started his story.
Agnes Crumplebottom was a beautiful young woman; however, she lived in the shadows of her parents and older sister. Because her own beauty was diminished when compared to her sister’s outgoing nature, Agnes was always insecure. However, she found someone to love her. Erik Darling brought the light to her life, Agnes had never been so happy in her life, she got lost in the endless love that Erik’s eyes emitted. The two married, however, on their honeymoon, Erik was torn from her in a single, unforeseeable, tragic event.
Upon returning to the empty house, there were times that Agnes thought she was going crazy because she would see the ghost of her dead husband. Agnes would speak to the specter, tell it how much she loved it, and how she wished that it could return to life to be with her. She would tell the ghost of the future she planned for herself and her husband, especially how she would finish the baby’s room upstairs and fill it with Erik’s children.
One day while visiting the library, Agnes happened upon a recipe for some strange food called Ambrosia rumored extend a person’s life or bring a ghost back to life. Ghost? Agnes was certain then that she was not losing her mind.
Since that day she discovered the recipe, Agnes’ days were spent with her head buried in books. She studied cooking, gardening and fishing, all the skills that would be necessary to harvest the rare ingredients for this long lost recipe.
When her head wasn’t buried in a book, she could be found at the various fishing spots around town. She became so obsessed with her work that family and friends were forgotten. Her sister called, only to be cut off so Agnes could rush out of the house to tend to her garden or to go fishing or to run to the library.
One day Agnes’ sister Cornelia called her, Cornelia’s voice was full of concern. “Agnes, you’re not getting any younger and you’ve done nothing but sit and stare into books. You have no life, why can’t you just let Erik go?”
Agnes sighed into the phone, Cornelia wouldn’t get it, her husband was still alive and she had her son Mortimer to raise. Agnes wanted to be left alone, Erik was the only man who would love her and Cornelia needed to butt out of her life.
Suddenly, Agnes had an idea.
Chapter Two
The teenage boy sat down and set the book he was reading on his lap. “So her husband died on their honeymoon. Your story doesn’t tell me anything except that she’s an obsessive old coot.”
The man’s eyebrows knitted together. “What? Oh you thought I was done?” He chuckled. “My story was just beginning.”
The child was not a part of her and Erik, but it was a child, somebody she could pass on her knowledge of Ambrosia to. Agnes chose to adopt a child and not an infant because she would not have the time to take care of a helpless baby, even as her adopted son wrapped his arms around her, the woman wanted to run out of the kitchen, jump into a cab and head to a fishing hole.
The child, Tyler soon found that he would have a miserable existence. He was lonely because his mother was never home and no children were allowed inside the house. He was always hungry because there was nothing to eat, the woman sold all the fish she caught to pay her bills, she had sold her car to buy gardening things and more books.
Eventually the boy was forced to accompany Agnes on her many fishing trips. When he was home and his homework was finished he would have to read the many books she brought home. There were times that Tyler thought he was better off at the orphanage, at least there he had other children to play with.
Agnes became an old woman and she began to fear that she would never see Erik again, but she was not about to give up on finding a way to bring him back to life. She and finally happened upon some seeds that may just be the ones she had searched her entire youth for and she was coming closer and closer to finding the illusive deathfish.
Meanwhile, Agnes wasn’t the only one moving forward with her life. With his teenage years came changes in hormones and interest. But one thing that didn’t change was Tyler’s desire to be accepted by his mother. He had grown to love the woman; he just wished that she would return it.
He was not about to get his wish, because early the next morning, the mysterious bush Agnes had planted, produced a fruit that glowed gold and pulsed with life.
It wasn’t long before Tyler found someone to help him distract himself from his mother’s absence. She wouldn’t have been his first choice in girls but she was there and it was clear that, despite her commitment issues, she loved him. Marissa was his first love. He had never felt loved by another human being before, so the strong feelings this girl stirred up in him were both frightening and thrilling.
While her son was finding love, Agnes was rediscovering the reasons she loved Erik. “Tomorrow my love, we’ll be together again. You won’t have to leave me when the sun comes up.”
True to her word, an excited Agnes prepared the life giving meal for the man she loved the most, as well as a batch for herself and an extra, just in case.
The Ambrosia was the best thing that Erik had eaten in his life, and his afterlife. He felt the meal tingle throughout his body, and suddenly, his cold dead soul began to warm. When Erik looked at his fingers he was amazed to see that they were pink with blood, he brought his hand up to his face and found that his cheek was warm with life. The Ambrosia worked quickly and effectively.
Agnes was happy with Erik for a time, until the man started to realize that he was no older than the day he died and his wife was decades older. Although Erik had money, he was not the handsomest person around but Erik had money.
“Aggie baby, how are you?” He asked as he came down the stairs and found the woman sitting in the living room.
“I’m fine Erik.”
“That’s good to know. We have to talk. Look at us; you know this isn’t going to work. You’re like…eighty and I’m still only twenty-six years old.”
“What are you saying Erik?” Agnes asked just as a voice came from the kitchen.
“Erik honey! I’m done fixing the dishwasher, can we stop playing employer-employee now, I’m getting bored with it.” Erik never had to answer.
As it turns out, Agnes’ age was not the only problem. “There wasn’t a child when I left, why should I have to take care of one now?”
Living with Erik was like living in hell. Being given a second chance completely changed Erik, he was not the man Agnes remembered.
On her son’s eighteenth birthday, a heartbroken Agnes and a very pissed off Tyler packed their things and left the comfort of the place they had called home.
The teenager blinked, “So, where did Agnes and her son go?”
His companion finally glanced up from the book. “Did they go up to the Goth mansion with her sister?”
The man smirked, “No, she didn’t go live with her sister. Although life kicked her in the butt she’s still a prideful woman.”
The reader closed his book. “What about her son? She never paid him any attention…did he leave her? And who the hell are you? I see you all over town…”
The man held up a hand. “As you know Agnes is still around, and she and her son do live together. Who I am, well, that’s another story for another time.”
Chapter Three
“Pretty good story you told those kids at the library yesterday.” The guy working out said.
“Yeah,” The man mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Kids today, they judge and they judge but they never take the time out to get to know people. You know, get to know their stories.”
“What’s your story?” The guy turned the treadmill off and leaned against it.
“My story is just beginning.” He shrugged and walked away.
Chapter Four
“Tyler.” The young woman skipped over to him and tilted her face so that he could kiss her on the cheek. “Did you talk to your mom about me moving in?”
Tyler chuckled. “Suzanne, I’m a grown man and it’s my property.”
Suzanne stuck her hands in her pockets. “What about Marissa?”
It was Tyler’s turn to be uncomfortable. “It’s been over for a while; neither of us were willing to accept it, that’s all.”
Suzanne frowned, she had met Tyler in town and the man was very sociable. Human nature made her want to judge him by his dirty clothes and his long hair, but his easy smile and quick wits made her change her mind. The two of them had become fast friends, probably more than friends, but the problem was that he already had a girlfriend.
Tyler met Marissa at the park, what he was about to do was going to be hard. They had been together since they were fifteen and now he was ending it. But what was he supposed to do? He had found somebody new and his relationship with Marissa had plateaued.
“Don’t say anything.” Marissa said when she walked over to him. “Do you love her?”
Tyler shrugged. “I really like her.”
Marissa smiled knowingly. “Good, cause I was thinking of getting rid of you for a long time, but you were so fragile, what with your mom being…Agnes Crumplebottom.” The two of them paused then burst out laughing. Tyler knew immediately that he and Marissa were going to remain friends and he would be able to move things forward with Suzanne.
And he did.
Tyler couldn’t wait to make Suzanne his wife and begin building a life with her. The two of them decided to have a nighttime wedding in the park, they invited all of their friends and coworkers and Agnes, for the first time in a long time was happy. The relationship she had with Tyler was still a bit shaky, but they were working on it. Agnes also really liked Suzanne, the girl was a big help to her and Tyler in the garden.
Suzanne adjusted well to Agnes’ and Tyler’s frugal life, but she wanted a roof over her head. Tyler and Agnes had saved up a bit of money from Agnes’ partner’s deals with a few of the local businesses. Suzanne immediately set to work having a house built and cleaning up her husband.
Their house was a small one, but it was comfortable and a big step up from the way they were living before. Plus, now that they had a home they could start working on children.
Sadly, Agnes would not live to see her grandkids. The Ambrosia had given her a chance for a longer life, she had seen her son get married and start to build a life, but the food could not make her live forever. As her breath left her body, she wondered if her son would bring her back, give her the second chance she gave Erik, Agnes really wanted to see her grandchildren.
A heavy sigh escaped Suzanne as she watched the old woman die, she and Tyler wanted Agnes to meet at least one of her grandkids, and they had been trying to make this happen but there was a bit of trouble and it worried Suzanne. Tyler pretended that he was okay with their inability to conceive, being adopted himself he suggest that if it didn’t happen they could adopt. But Suzanne really wanted a child with Tyler, one that carried their DNA.
“I’m sorry Agnes.” She whispered as the old woman breathed her last breath.
Chapter Five
“I’m going to the doctor today.” Suzanne murmured as she basked in her husband’s embrace.
“Why?”
“Your mother’s passing really made me think, we’ve been trying for children forever—I know you said adoption is an option but it’s not the same. I’m going to the hospital; see if they can…fix…me.”
“Baby…”
“No Tyler.”
As Suzanne walked up to the hospital door, her entire body felt cold. She was scared to death that maybe she’ll get bad news, that the doctor would say that there was something seriously wrong with her. What kind of woman can’t give her husband a child?
One that was broken.
As she stepped into the air conditioned waiting room Suzanne mentally prepared herself to be…broken.
Chapter Six
“Tyler, I just saw the doctor.”
“What did he say?” Tyler asked, fearing the worst. He tried to seem as if he would be cool if they had to adopt, but the idea of actually having children with his wife was a really appealing one. But he had been dealt a bad card in life and another disappointment; although it would hurt him it wouldn’t kill him.
“He said that there is nothing wrong with me. That maybe everything that happened, good and bad, like our wedding, the new house, your mother’s death—he said that maybe all of that is having an effect on me, and that I should just calm down, take a break, relax.”
Tyler fought the sigh that was trying to escape him; he didn’t want Suzanne to know that having a baby was as big a deal to him as it was to her, just in case it didn’t happen. “That’s good Sue, why don’t you go treat yourself to a spa day and then come meet me at the restaurant later.”
“Okay Tyler.” Suzanne pushed the thought that maybe it won’t happen to the back of her mind. She was going to calm herself down like the doctor said.
Chapter Seven
The pregnancy was nothing like Suzanne expected. The morning sickness was brutal but the backaches were worst. Suzanne felt as if she spent so much time kneeling on the bathroom floor with her head in the toilet. Worst, suddenly Tyler was never around, he spent all his time at the library finishing whatever research his mother had started. Whatever Agnes had been up to was kept such a big secret, Suzanne reminded him that they were married and there should be no secrets between them, but he ignored her.
Suzanne was at home alone when she went into labor; she wasn’t at all surprised either. She cussed Tyler between every contraction and struggled to find her cell phone and dial the emergency number as another sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
Tyler did eventually show up at the hospital the day his son was born, and he was there early the next day to pick up his wife and their new baby. Suzanne was still pissed that he was hardly there during her pregnancy, but they had a baby now, maybe that would motivate Tyler to spend some time home.
Tyler was fascinated by the little baby who was always wrapped up so that he resembled a caterpillar. The baby was the spitting image of his mother; he had everything from her pale skin to her bright smile. Tyler was curious about the infant’s blue eyes though, they were so blue that they almost glowed. He couldn’t tell what color the baby’s hair was as the child didn’t have any hair, not even any eyebrows. Tyler had seen many babies at the orphanage, he had come to think of them as little creatures that made a lot of noise and oozed from everywhere. This one was different, this baby was his baby. Strange how to people could give life to another…
Tyler put his son; Tyrese back in his crib, inspiration had hit him. Perhaps there was a connection between humans’ ability to create life and the lifefruit’s ability to prolong or recreate life.
Tyler had never cooked Ambrosia, but he did get in trouble when he was a teenager for eating Agnes’ emergency supply. He wanted to try to make the meal himself, however, Agnes introduced a new breed of fish to the pond where the death fish could be found, and since then it was impossible to find deathfish.
Tyler’s mind was all over the place as he fished, he calculated and theorized a million different things. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that the sudden ringing of his cell phone scared him.
“Tyler, where are you?” Suzanne questioned. When she went out back to check on the lifefruit plants her husband was in the baby’s room, Tyrese’s crying brought her back into the house, and she was surprised to find Tyler gone.
“I’m fishing in the graveyard. You know, I’ve got a theory about…”
“I don’t care about your theories!” Suzanne snapped. “Today is Ty’s birthday, please be there.” She hung the phone up. Her son hardly had a relationship with his father, the baby would babble and coo when he heard her voice, but when he heard Tyler it was as if he were hearing another stranger.
Tyler’s constant absence was beginning to frustrate Suzanne, if he didn’t buckle up soon their marriage would fall apart.
“How was fishing?” Suzanne asked the next day, of course Tyler lost track of time and never showed up for Tyrese’s birthday party.
“Not very good, I have to find some deathfish soon…” He went on and on about fishing without even catching the sarcasm in his wife’s tone.
Suzanne sighed and rubbed her throbbing head. “Can you please spend some time with Ty today?” She was begging her husband to spend time with his own son.
“Uh…” Tyler wanted to go fishing later. “Baby…my research.”
“You know what Tyler; maybe you should just marry your damn research!” Suzanne jumped up from her seat and stormed to the bedroom.
Suzanne said nothing when Tyler came home that night; instead she waited for him to go take a shower. When Tyler came out of the bathroom, Suzanne was nowhere to be found but the baby was sitting on the floor sticking his finger up his nose.
“Um…hi.” Tyler said awkwardly to his son, the toddler turned around and stared up at the man he had seen inside the house sometimes and immediately started to cry. “No, no please…” Tyler begged and picked up his son. Holding the baby up to his face he realized that he didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a child on his own.
“Me and you are gonna hang out this evening.” Tyler told Tyrese. The baby stopped crying but he looked around the room for his mother. “I know, how about I teach you to walk huh?”
“Okay, I’ll put you down here and go over there and you come to me, right?”
Tyrese stood still, watching curiously as the mysterious man beckoned to him. He took one step toward the man and stopped, again he looked around for his mother, when he didn’t see her he took another step toward the man that he’d seen around the house a few times.
Suzanne had spent the entire night at a friend’s house. When she came home the house was empty, but she could see Tyler outside in the garden. With a smirk she went around to the backyard and plopped down beside Tyrese. “I’m surprised that you’re still alive.” She told the baby as she watched his father pull weeds from the plants.
“Da!” Tyrese said and pointed toward Tyler.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Da.” The toddler said again. Suzanne smiled at her son.
Tyler came toward them and Tyrese toddled to him, Suzanne watched as he bent toward the child and murmured to him. That was all she wanted from Tyler, for him to take time out to get to know his son, she had to admit that there was something sexy about a man who took care of his kids.
Chapter Eight
“Where’s your daddy?” Suzanne asked Tyrese as she sauntered into the living room.
“Fish!” Tyrese replied, he was watching TV and didn’t want to be disturbed.
Suzanne flopped onto the couch and rubbed her stomach, she had been throwing up for the past couple of days, at first she thought it was just a stomach flu, but she was certain now that she had to be pregnant again.
She and Tyler had worked things out; he began to spend more time with his family. He would fish all day and be home promptly at five, then he would play with Tyrese until he got sleepy then he would put the toddler to bed and spend time with his wife.
Suzanne had Tyrese all day, although with her pregnancy, taking care of the boy who was not going through the terrible-twos was exhausting. Then there was a period where Tyrese wanted her attention all the time, he would climb on her or hang onto her legs and when she didn’t pick him up he would start wailing. Suzanne wanted to ask Tyler for help now that he was starting to be a better husband, but she felt guilty taking away the time she had agreed to for him to do his research.
“Do you know what we’re having yet?” He asked her one night as he rubbed her stomach.
“No, I don’t want to know.” She told him, he pouted like a little child and she had to smile.
“How are things in the day with Ty?”
Suzanne hesitated. “It’s good.”
“You’re lying.” Tyler had gotten to know his wife a lot better; he could read her expressions and tone. “Tomorrow I’m going to try one more time to find the deathfish, if I don’t tomorrow then I’ll stop with this research. My mother wasted her youth trying to fix Erik and look at what happened when she finally did.” He pulled Suzanne in to a warm embrace. “I don’t want to push you and my kids away from me, I don’t want to be obsessed with Ambrosia like my mother.”
Suzanne had never been so happy with Tyler since the day she married him. Perhaps she was too excited about her change in her husband because she had just put Tyrese down for his midday nap when the contractions started.
Tyler and Suzanne had a baby girl they named Serenity and she was the spitting image of Tyler. Just as he promised, he stopped his research and devoted himself one hundred percent to his family.
As his kids grew, so did his house. One afternoon while playing catch with Tyrese, Tyler took a good look at the house and could not believe that it had started out as an empty lot.
Tyler wasn’t completely done with his research though; he documented his findings from home so that he could be with his family.
Gazing into his daughter’s eyes, Tyler was glad that his wife had forced him to spend that one night alone with Tyrese. If she hadn’t, who knows what would have happened. Perhaps they never would have had Serenity and his family would have fallen apart like his mother’s.
Chapter Nine
“I’m worried about Tyrese.” Suzanne voiced one night as she and Tyler were watching television.
“Why?” Tyler asked.
“He’s so…antisocial, and he may be gay.”
Tyler chuckled. “He’s perfectly fine.”
“Tyler, his best friend is Serenity.”
“So he has a good relationship with his little sister, nothing’s wrong with that.”
Suzanne wanted to reach over and slap Tyler in the head. “He never brings girls home, or talks about any girl that he has his eye on, and have you seen him. I mean, have you really taken a good look at your son lately? He pencils his eyes.”
“I talked to him, he’s emo, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Tyrese had been in Serenity’s room, he had heard his parents talking. When they finally went to their bedroom he came out of the room carrying his little sister. “What is Mom’s problem?”
Serenity looked at her big brother. What was he talking about? He was supposed to be getting her a bottle.
Things between Suzanne and Tyrese were rocky, they argued all the time. Their arguments usually ended with Tyrese screaming for her to butt out of his life and slamming his bedroom door.
Serenity stared at her brother, he told her that she was the only one who understood him but she didn’t. Tyrese would sit around and strum his guitar, Tyler would try to talk to him and be ignored, Suzanne would try to talk to him and she would be screamed at. Serenity was worried about her older brother, she hoped that she wouldn’t come home one day and find him swinging in the closet by his neck.
Serenity pushed those dark thoughts to the back of her mind, adults and teenagers had too much drama in their lives for her, she would go to her room and play with her dolls and pray that when she reached her brother’s age she would not have as much issues as he did.
Chapter Ten
Tyler gazed at Marissa nearly in shock. It was as if she had aged decades overnight.
“Tyler?” Marissa stared back at her ex boyfriend. He looked no older than the last time she’d seen him, in fact he looked younger.
“How is it that you are still so young?”
“I uh…” The lifefruit. Tyler and his family had a seemingly endless supply of the glowing fruits, they ate them as snacks and even cooked with them. “I’m writing a book, as soon as it is published you will understand.”
“This is crazy.” Marissa shook her head as he ushered her into the house.
She met Tyler’s teenaged son in the backyard as she was inspecting the pool.
“Who are you?” The boy questioned.
“My name’s Marissa, I used to date your father. You’re that boy who plays the guitar in the park.”
“Yes I am.” Tyler frowned. “There’s no way you dated my father.”
“Isn’t there?” Marissa winked. She’d always thought Agnes was a weird old woman, but now she knew that the Crumplebottoms had a big secret. “Maybe you should ask your parents how they defied the laws of nature like that, your mother used to be older than both of us.”
Tyrese watched as the old woman went back into the house, his mind was racing with all kinds of thoughts. The old woman said that she used to be around the same age as his parents, but that was impossible. Then another thought occurred to him, if Marissa noticed how odd it was for his parents to remain ageless, then other people round town must have noticed as well, what were the people of Sunset Valley saying about the Crumplebottoms?
Chapter Eleven
“I wrote a new song, would you like to come over to my house sometime this weekend? I’m sick of Mom going on and on about my antisocial behavior.”
The two girls, Anissa Sekemoto and Lyndsay Floyd grinned. When Tyrese told them about his mother’s constant nagging, they had offered to come over to his house so she could see that he did in fact have friends, however he kept turning them down, as if he had something to hide.
Serenity was completely different from her brother; she and her best friend Diane had regular weekend sleepovers. This one was particularly special because it was Serenity’s birthday. Her house had become crazy, what with her mother and brother constantly going at each other.
“I can’t believe they’re talking about that, I’m so embarrassed.” Tyrese murmured to Lyndsay.
“He’s not anti-social; Ty is actually a cool guy.” Anissa told Suzanne.
“Really? Are you sure he’s not paying you to hang out with him?” Suzanne questioned.
“Of course I am Mom, I mean, we can totally afford it. Come on you two, let’s go see a movie.”
“Relax dude,” Anissa chuckled and plopped herself down beside Tyrese on the couch. “Your mom isn’t as bad as you say she is.”
“She thought I paid you…”
Anissa looked at her watch, “Oh my gosh! I’m late!”
“Why do you think she always has to run off to be with her boyfriend?” Tyrese grumbled.
Lyndsay rolled her eyes. “Because he’s her boyfriend. That girl is never going to love you, maybe you should stop wasting your time and find somebody who will.”
Chapter Twelve
“Serenity! Where the heck were you? I was worried sick!” Suzanne screeched at her daughter.
“Woah! Chill Moms.” Serenity chuckled. “I was over at the Bachelor’s house.”
“I do not want you around that Kerry boy.” Suzanne sighed; she had just fixed her relationship with one of her teenage children. Since the day she developed breasts Serenity had become trouble. She stayed out late, slacked off in school and pretty much didn’t give a damn about anything.
“Kerry is harmless Mom.”
Serenity was pretty disappointed in Kerry. She usually got any boy she wanted but Kerry was completely devoted to his girlfriend Anissa. His lack of enthusiasm to be with Serenity only increased Serenity’s determination to get him. She decided that to get him would take a lot of calculation and plotting, and she already had the perfect plan.
“He’s not even any good for her.” Tyrese complained to Lyndsay. Her reply was a heavy sigh; Tyrese could go on and on about Anissa and how he was better for her than Kerry was.
“And she’s rude too; she was supposed to be here to do her homework with us…”
“Will you shut up?” Lyndsay shouted and rested her forehead against her fist. “I’m sick of hearing you bitch about Anissa and Kerry! Why don’t you just give up on her huh? She’s never going to love you.”
“She does, she just doesn’t want to leave Kerry.” Lyndsay blinked, it was pointless. “She’s my soul mate Lyndsay, nobody could ever love me like her.”
“But…she doesn’t…” Lyndsay shook her head. “There are other girls out there who adore you.”
“Like who?”
“Uh…Diane.”
“My little sister’s friend?” Tyrese laughed, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What are you doing for your birthday?” Serenity asked her brother a few weeks later.
“Nothing.”
“You’re just going to sit at home?”
“Yeah pretty much.”
“You suck Tyrese.” Serenity stood up as the bus stopped in front of their house. “Diane is coming over.”
“Diane’s always coming over.”
Serenity read her brother’s reaction to the news, this would not do. The Crumplebottom kids got off the bus and went into their house.
A half hour later, Diane met Serenity on her porch. “What did he say when you told him I was coming over?” Diane asked excitedly.
Serenity turned her back to her friend for dramatic effect. “He couldn’t care less. Dee, you need to step your game up. I need my brother to fall in love with you. Don’t you want my brother to love you?”
“Yes Serenity. You know I do.”
“Good, then talk to him the next time you see him.”
“Uh Serenity, why do you need him to love me?”
Serenity rolled her eyes. “Because it’s the only way to get Anissa to want him. She’s a jealous bitch, and for me that’s a good thing.”
Diane did as she was told; she always did what Serenity told her to do. Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest when Tyrese walked into the office that night.
“Hey Diane.” He mumbled.
“Tyrese?”
“Yeah.”
“Umm…” She tapped her fingers together, “Are you having a good birthday?”
“I guess.” He took a seat beside her. “Why are you still here anyway? Serenity’s asleep.”
“I’m ah…actually, here to…see you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Daddy!” Serenity moaned, she had been sitting on the floor for nearly three hours. Her parents had finally decided to crack down on her lack of work. Tyler had gone to the school and found out all the work that Serenity was lacking, he came home with a box filled with books and a flash drive of recorded lessons.
The next morning found another one of Tyler’s children catching up on work. Tyrese had completely changed his dreams, he decided that music wasn’t for him; instead he was going to become a star athlete. After all, the only thing that Kerry had and he didn’t was a nice body.
Besides swimming in their pool Tyrese had never done any serious working out. His muscles were screaming for him to stop but he was determined to achieve a new level of sexiness.
Meanwhile, something was happening inside the house. Suzanne had woken up looking years older than she did when she had gone to bed. Crow’s feet lined the corners of her mouth and eyes and her hair had developed some gray.
“Tyler!” She screamed.
Suzanne found Tyler outside. “What the hell is happening to…” She paused. Tyler’s low cut hair had gone completely gray. “Tyler what’s happening to us?”
Tyler shrugged. “We’re beginning to look our age.”
“How can you be so calm about this? What’s causing this?”
Tyler bent and picked up the morning paper. “Maybe it’s because we haven’t eaten any lifefruit in a while. Did you expect us to beat Father Time forever?”
“How are we going to explain this to people? We look like we’ve aged thirty years.”
“Suzanne, relax. Just embrace it.”
Suzanne took a deep breath, she felt better than she looked so maybe it wasn’t anything to worry about. She decided that if Tyler wasn’t freaking out, then she shouldn’t. Although, her husband didn’t look nearly as bad as she did.
“Hey Serenity.” Diane greeted her friend.
“Look, I had to see you.” Serenity’s eyebrows knitted together.
“Why are you so happy?”
“Because your brother is finally starting to notice me.”
“Oh…that’s good I guess.” Serenity exhaled heavily. “I’m not making any progress with Kerry. You need to be more upfront about your wanting Tyrese.” She leaned in close to Diane.
“I don’t care if you have to stick your hand down his pants when Anissa is around, just do it.”
Diane’s head jerked up, “Oh crap! There’s a cop coming this way.”
“Serenity Crumplebottom, come with me.” The policewoman grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the waiting car.
“Let go of me!” Serenity screamed and struggled in the woman’s grip.
“No can do. Your mother sent me.”
Serenity was furious. “Are you freakin’ serious?” She couldn’t believe Suzanne would have her embarrassed like that.
“Apparently you are out past your curfew.”
“So what? I’m nearly grown.”
“But you’re not grown yet.”
Serenity ranted the whole drive to her house, so much so that the female cop had a giant headache by the time she pulled up in front of the Crumplebottom house.
“I can’t believe you did that to me.” Serenity shouted at her mother as she hopped out of the car. “I’m never speaking to you again!”
Suzanne stood in shock, she and her daughter always had arguments but never before had Serenity hurt her so with her words. She was sick and tired of the girl always sneaking out of the house, anything could happen to a fifteen year old girl outside at night alone.
The next morning Suzanne tried to speak to her daughter but Serenity was still giving her the silent treatment.
“Serenity, you have to understand that you can’t just do whatever you want.”
“Why are there so many rules for me huh? Do you know that Anissa slept here last night?”
Suzanne blinked dumbly, “I did not know that, no.” She shook her head, “That’s different, Tyrese is a grown man.”
“What about morals and ethics?” Serenity shot and went back into the house.
“I’ll see you later?” Tyrese whispered to Anissa, he didn’t know that his little sister had already dropped the bomb.
“Well good morning Anissa.” Suzanne crept up on them as Tyrese was sneaking Anissa out through the front door.
“Mom?”
“It happened again didn’t it?” Suzanne asked, vowing that she would avoid mirrors for the rest of her life.
Chapter One
“Hey, I haven’t seen Crazy Ol’ Crumplebutt today.” A young man said to his companion.
The man at the door turned around, an amused smile on his face.
“You wouldn’t happen to be talking about Mrs. Crumplebottom would you?” He questioned.
“Yeah, what’s it to you Hobo?” The teenager sneered.
Unperturbed by the boy’s rudeness, the man grinned and went over to the boys and made himself comfortable on the center table. “Sit down, sit down. I’ll tell you a story of pain and woe and then you’ll understand why the old woman is so grouchy.” Before the boys could protest, the man started his story.
Agnes Crumplebottom was a beautiful young woman; however, she lived in the shadows of her parents and older sister. Because her own beauty was diminished when compared to her sister’s outgoing nature, Agnes was always insecure. However, she found someone to love her. Erik Darling brought the light to her life, Agnes had never been so happy in her life, she got lost in the endless love that Erik’s eyes emitted. The two married, however, on their honeymoon, Erik was torn from her in a single, unforeseeable, tragic event.
Upon returning to the empty house, there were times that Agnes thought she was going crazy because she would see the ghost of her dead husband. Agnes would speak to the specter, tell it how much she loved it, and how she wished that it could return to life to be with her. She would tell the ghost of the future she planned for herself and her husband, especially how she would finish the baby’s room upstairs and fill it with Erik’s children.
One day while visiting the library, Agnes happened upon a recipe for some strange food called Ambrosia rumored extend a person’s life or bring a ghost back to life. Ghost? Agnes was certain then that she was not losing her mind.
Since that day she discovered the recipe, Agnes’ days were spent with her head buried in books. She studied cooking, gardening and fishing, all the skills that would be necessary to harvest the rare ingredients for this long lost recipe.
When her head wasn’t buried in a book, she could be found at the various fishing spots around town. She became so obsessed with her work that family and friends were forgotten. Her sister called, only to be cut off so Agnes could rush out of the house to tend to her garden or to go fishing or to run to the library.
One day Agnes’ sister Cornelia called her, Cornelia’s voice was full of concern. “Agnes, you’re not getting any younger and you’ve done nothing but sit and stare into books. You have no life, why can’t you just let Erik go?”
Agnes sighed into the phone, Cornelia wouldn’t get it, her husband was still alive and she had her son Mortimer to raise. Agnes wanted to be left alone, Erik was the only man who would love her and Cornelia needed to butt out of her life.
Suddenly, Agnes had an idea.
Chapter Two
The teenage boy sat down and set the book he was reading on his lap. “So her husband died on their honeymoon. Your story doesn’t tell me anything except that she’s an obsessive old coot.”
The man’s eyebrows knitted together. “What? Oh you thought I was done?” He chuckled. “My story was just beginning.”
The child was not a part of her and Erik, but it was a child, somebody she could pass on her knowledge of Ambrosia to. Agnes chose to adopt a child and not an infant because she would not have the time to take care of a helpless baby, even as her adopted son wrapped his arms around her, the woman wanted to run out of the kitchen, jump into a cab and head to a fishing hole.
The child, Tyler soon found that he would have a miserable existence. He was lonely because his mother was never home and no children were allowed inside the house. He was always hungry because there was nothing to eat, the woman sold all the fish she caught to pay her bills, she had sold her car to buy gardening things and more books.
Eventually the boy was forced to accompany Agnes on her many fishing trips. When he was home and his homework was finished he would have to read the many books she brought home. There were times that Tyler thought he was better off at the orphanage, at least there he had other children to play with.
Agnes became an old woman and she began to fear that she would never see Erik again, but she was not about to give up on finding a way to bring him back to life. She and finally happened upon some seeds that may just be the ones she had searched her entire youth for and she was coming closer and closer to finding the illusive deathfish.
Meanwhile, Agnes wasn’t the only one moving forward with her life. With his teenage years came changes in hormones and interest. But one thing that didn’t change was Tyler’s desire to be accepted by his mother. He had grown to love the woman; he just wished that she would return it.
He was not about to get his wish, because early the next morning, the mysterious bush Agnes had planted, produced a fruit that glowed gold and pulsed with life.
It wasn’t long before Tyler found someone to help him distract himself from his mother’s absence. She wouldn’t have been his first choice in girls but she was there and it was clear that, despite her commitment issues, she loved him. Marissa was his first love. He had never felt loved by another human being before, so the strong feelings this girl stirred up in him were both frightening and thrilling.
While her son was finding love, Agnes was rediscovering the reasons she loved Erik. “Tomorrow my love, we’ll be together again. You won’t have to leave me when the sun comes up.”
True to her word, an excited Agnes prepared the life giving meal for the man she loved the most, as well as a batch for herself and an extra, just in case.
The Ambrosia was the best thing that Erik had eaten in his life, and his afterlife. He felt the meal tingle throughout his body, and suddenly, his cold dead soul began to warm. When Erik looked at his fingers he was amazed to see that they were pink with blood, he brought his hand up to his face and found that his cheek was warm with life. The Ambrosia worked quickly and effectively.
Agnes was happy with Erik for a time, until the man started to realize that he was no older than the day he died and his wife was decades older. Although Erik had money, he was not the handsomest person around but Erik had money.
“Aggie baby, how are you?” He asked as he came down the stairs and found the woman sitting in the living room.
“I’m fine Erik.”
“That’s good to know. We have to talk. Look at us; you know this isn’t going to work. You’re like…eighty and I’m still only twenty-six years old.”
“What are you saying Erik?” Agnes asked just as a voice came from the kitchen.
“Erik honey! I’m done fixing the dishwasher, can we stop playing employer-employee now, I’m getting bored with it.” Erik never had to answer.
As it turns out, Agnes’ age was not the only problem. “There wasn’t a child when I left, why should I have to take care of one now?”
Living with Erik was like living in hell. Being given a second chance completely changed Erik, he was not the man Agnes remembered.
On her son’s eighteenth birthday, a heartbroken Agnes and a very pissed off Tyler packed their things and left the comfort of the place they had called home.
The teenager blinked, “So, where did Agnes and her son go?”
His companion finally glanced up from the book. “Did they go up to the Goth mansion with her sister?”
The man smirked, “No, she didn’t go live with her sister. Although life kicked her in the butt she’s still a prideful woman.”
The reader closed his book. “What about her son? She never paid him any attention…did he leave her? And who the hell are you? I see you all over town…”
The man held up a hand. “As you know Agnes is still around, and she and her son do live together. Who I am, well, that’s another story for another time.”
Chapter Three
“Pretty good story you told those kids at the library yesterday.” The guy working out said.
“Yeah,” The man mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Kids today, they judge and they judge but they never take the time out to get to know people. You know, get to know their stories.”
“What’s your story?” The guy turned the treadmill off and leaned against it.
“My story is just beginning.” He shrugged and walked away.
Chapter Four
“Tyler.” The young woman skipped over to him and tilted her face so that he could kiss her on the cheek. “Did you talk to your mom about me moving in?”
Tyler chuckled. “Suzanne, I’m a grown man and it’s my property.”
Suzanne stuck her hands in her pockets. “What about Marissa?”
It was Tyler’s turn to be uncomfortable. “It’s been over for a while; neither of us were willing to accept it, that’s all.”
Suzanne frowned, she had met Tyler in town and the man was very sociable. Human nature made her want to judge him by his dirty clothes and his long hair, but his easy smile and quick wits made her change her mind. The two of them had become fast friends, probably more than friends, but the problem was that he already had a girlfriend.
Tyler met Marissa at the park, what he was about to do was going to be hard. They had been together since they were fifteen and now he was ending it. But what was he supposed to do? He had found somebody new and his relationship with Marissa had plateaued.
“Don’t say anything.” Marissa said when she walked over to him. “Do you love her?”
Tyler shrugged. “I really like her.”
Marissa smiled knowingly. “Good, cause I was thinking of getting rid of you for a long time, but you were so fragile, what with your mom being…Agnes Crumplebottom.” The two of them paused then burst out laughing. Tyler knew immediately that he and Marissa were going to remain friends and he would be able to move things forward with Suzanne.
And he did.
Tyler couldn’t wait to make Suzanne his wife and begin building a life with her. The two of them decided to have a nighttime wedding in the park, they invited all of their friends and coworkers and Agnes, for the first time in a long time was happy. The relationship she had with Tyler was still a bit shaky, but they were working on it. Agnes also really liked Suzanne, the girl was a big help to her and Tyler in the garden.
Suzanne adjusted well to Agnes’ and Tyler’s frugal life, but she wanted a roof over her head. Tyler and Agnes had saved up a bit of money from Agnes’ partner’s deals with a few of the local businesses. Suzanne immediately set to work having a house built and cleaning up her husband.
Their house was a small one, but it was comfortable and a big step up from the way they were living before. Plus, now that they had a home they could start working on children.
Sadly, Agnes would not live to see her grandkids. The Ambrosia had given her a chance for a longer life, she had seen her son get married and start to build a life, but the food could not make her live forever. As her breath left her body, she wondered if her son would bring her back, give her the second chance she gave Erik, Agnes really wanted to see her grandchildren.
A heavy sigh escaped Suzanne as she watched the old woman die, she and Tyler wanted Agnes to meet at least one of her grandkids, and they had been trying to make this happen but there was a bit of trouble and it worried Suzanne. Tyler pretended that he was okay with their inability to conceive, being adopted himself he suggest that if it didn’t happen they could adopt. But Suzanne really wanted a child with Tyler, one that carried their DNA.
“I’m sorry Agnes.” She whispered as the old woman breathed her last breath.
Chapter Five
“I’m going to the doctor today.” Suzanne murmured as she basked in her husband’s embrace.
“Why?”
“Your mother’s passing really made me think, we’ve been trying for children forever—I know you said adoption is an option but it’s not the same. I’m going to the hospital; see if they can…fix…me.”
“Baby…”
“No Tyler.”
As Suzanne walked up to the hospital door, her entire body felt cold. She was scared to death that maybe she’ll get bad news, that the doctor would say that there was something seriously wrong with her. What kind of woman can’t give her husband a child?
One that was broken.
As she stepped into the air conditioned waiting room Suzanne mentally prepared herself to be…broken.
Chapter Six
“Tyler, I just saw the doctor.”
“What did he say?” Tyler asked, fearing the worst. He tried to seem as if he would be cool if they had to adopt, but the idea of actually having children with his wife was a really appealing one. But he had been dealt a bad card in life and another disappointment; although it would hurt him it wouldn’t kill him.
“He said that there is nothing wrong with me. That maybe everything that happened, good and bad, like our wedding, the new house, your mother’s death—he said that maybe all of that is having an effect on me, and that I should just calm down, take a break, relax.”
Tyler fought the sigh that was trying to escape him; he didn’t want Suzanne to know that having a baby was as big a deal to him as it was to her, just in case it didn’t happen. “That’s good Sue, why don’t you go treat yourself to a spa day and then come meet me at the restaurant later.”
“Okay Tyler.” Suzanne pushed the thought that maybe it won’t happen to the back of her mind. She was going to calm herself down like the doctor said.
Chapter Seven
The pregnancy was nothing like Suzanne expected. The morning sickness was brutal but the backaches were worst. Suzanne felt as if she spent so much time kneeling on the bathroom floor with her head in the toilet. Worst, suddenly Tyler was never around, he spent all his time at the library finishing whatever research his mother had started. Whatever Agnes had been up to was kept such a big secret, Suzanne reminded him that they were married and there should be no secrets between them, but he ignored her.
Suzanne was at home alone when she went into labor; she wasn’t at all surprised either. She cussed Tyler between every contraction and struggled to find her cell phone and dial the emergency number as another sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
Tyler did eventually show up at the hospital the day his son was born, and he was there early the next day to pick up his wife and their new baby. Suzanne was still pissed that he was hardly there during her pregnancy, but they had a baby now, maybe that would motivate Tyler to spend some time home.
Tyler was fascinated by the little baby who was always wrapped up so that he resembled a caterpillar. The baby was the spitting image of his mother; he had everything from her pale skin to her bright smile. Tyler was curious about the infant’s blue eyes though, they were so blue that they almost glowed. He couldn’t tell what color the baby’s hair was as the child didn’t have any hair, not even any eyebrows. Tyler had seen many babies at the orphanage, he had come to think of them as little creatures that made a lot of noise and oozed from everywhere. This one was different, this baby was his baby. Strange how to people could give life to another…
Tyler put his son; Tyrese back in his crib, inspiration had hit him. Perhaps there was a connection between humans’ ability to create life and the lifefruit’s ability to prolong or recreate life.
Tyler had never cooked Ambrosia, but he did get in trouble when he was a teenager for eating Agnes’ emergency supply. He wanted to try to make the meal himself, however, Agnes introduced a new breed of fish to the pond where the death fish could be found, and since then it was impossible to find deathfish.
Tyler’s mind was all over the place as he fished, he calculated and theorized a million different things. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that the sudden ringing of his cell phone scared him.
“Tyler, where are you?” Suzanne questioned. When she went out back to check on the lifefruit plants her husband was in the baby’s room, Tyrese’s crying brought her back into the house, and she was surprised to find Tyler gone.
“I’m fishing in the graveyard. You know, I’ve got a theory about…”
“I don’t care about your theories!” Suzanne snapped. “Today is Ty’s birthday, please be there.” She hung the phone up. Her son hardly had a relationship with his father, the baby would babble and coo when he heard her voice, but when he heard Tyler it was as if he were hearing another stranger.
Tyler’s constant absence was beginning to frustrate Suzanne, if he didn’t buckle up soon their marriage would fall apart.
“How was fishing?” Suzanne asked the next day, of course Tyler lost track of time and never showed up for Tyrese’s birthday party.
“Not very good, I have to find some deathfish soon…” He went on and on about fishing without even catching the sarcasm in his wife’s tone.
Suzanne sighed and rubbed her throbbing head. “Can you please spend some time with Ty today?” She was begging her husband to spend time with his own son.
“Uh…” Tyler wanted to go fishing later. “Baby…my research.”
“You know what Tyler; maybe you should just marry your damn research!” Suzanne jumped up from her seat and stormed to the bedroom.
Suzanne said nothing when Tyler came home that night; instead she waited for him to go take a shower. When Tyler came out of the bathroom, Suzanne was nowhere to be found but the baby was sitting on the floor sticking his finger up his nose.
“Um…hi.” Tyler said awkwardly to his son, the toddler turned around and stared up at the man he had seen inside the house sometimes and immediately started to cry. “No, no please…” Tyler begged and picked up his son. Holding the baby up to his face he realized that he didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a child on his own.
“Me and you are gonna hang out this evening.” Tyler told Tyrese. The baby stopped crying but he looked around the room for his mother. “I know, how about I teach you to walk huh?”
“Okay, I’ll put you down here and go over there and you come to me, right?”
Tyrese stood still, watching curiously as the mysterious man beckoned to him. He took one step toward the man and stopped, again he looked around for his mother, when he didn’t see her he took another step toward the man that he’d seen around the house a few times.
Suzanne had spent the entire night at a friend’s house. When she came home the house was empty, but she could see Tyler outside in the garden. With a smirk she went around to the backyard and plopped down beside Tyrese. “I’m surprised that you’re still alive.” She told the baby as she watched his father pull weeds from the plants.
“Da!” Tyrese said and pointed toward Tyler.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Da.” The toddler said again. Suzanne smiled at her son.
Tyler came toward them and Tyrese toddled to him, Suzanne watched as he bent toward the child and murmured to him. That was all she wanted from Tyler, for him to take time out to get to know his son, she had to admit that there was something sexy about a man who took care of his kids.
Chapter Eight
“Where’s your daddy?” Suzanne asked Tyrese as she sauntered into the living room.
“Fish!” Tyrese replied, he was watching TV and didn’t want to be disturbed.
Suzanne flopped onto the couch and rubbed her stomach, she had been throwing up for the past couple of days, at first she thought it was just a stomach flu, but she was certain now that she had to be pregnant again.
She and Tyler had worked things out; he began to spend more time with his family. He would fish all day and be home promptly at five, then he would play with Tyrese until he got sleepy then he would put the toddler to bed and spend time with his wife.
Suzanne had Tyrese all day, although with her pregnancy, taking care of the boy who was not going through the terrible-twos was exhausting. Then there was a period where Tyrese wanted her attention all the time, he would climb on her or hang onto her legs and when she didn’t pick him up he would start wailing. Suzanne wanted to ask Tyler for help now that he was starting to be a better husband, but she felt guilty taking away the time she had agreed to for him to do his research.
“Do you know what we’re having yet?” He asked her one night as he rubbed her stomach.
“No, I don’t want to know.” She told him, he pouted like a little child and she had to smile.
“How are things in the day with Ty?”
Suzanne hesitated. “It’s good.”
“You’re lying.” Tyler had gotten to know his wife a lot better; he could read her expressions and tone. “Tomorrow I’m going to try one more time to find the deathfish, if I don’t tomorrow then I’ll stop with this research. My mother wasted her youth trying to fix Erik and look at what happened when she finally did.” He pulled Suzanne in to a warm embrace. “I don’t want to push you and my kids away from me, I don’t want to be obsessed with Ambrosia like my mother.”
Suzanne had never been so happy with Tyler since the day she married him. Perhaps she was too excited about her change in her husband because she had just put Tyrese down for his midday nap when the contractions started.
Tyler and Suzanne had a baby girl they named Serenity and she was the spitting image of Tyler. Just as he promised, he stopped his research and devoted himself one hundred percent to his family.
As his kids grew, so did his house. One afternoon while playing catch with Tyrese, Tyler took a good look at the house and could not believe that it had started out as an empty lot.
Tyler wasn’t completely done with his research though; he documented his findings from home so that he could be with his family.
Gazing into his daughter’s eyes, Tyler was glad that his wife had forced him to spend that one night alone with Tyrese. If she hadn’t, who knows what would have happened. Perhaps they never would have had Serenity and his family would have fallen apart like his mother’s.
Chapter Nine
“I’m worried about Tyrese.” Suzanne voiced one night as she and Tyler were watching television.
“Why?” Tyler asked.
“He’s so…antisocial, and he may be gay.”
Tyler chuckled. “He’s perfectly fine.”
“Tyler, his best friend is Serenity.”
“So he has a good relationship with his little sister, nothing’s wrong with that.”
Suzanne wanted to reach over and slap Tyler in the head. “He never brings girls home, or talks about any girl that he has his eye on, and have you seen him. I mean, have you really taken a good look at your son lately? He pencils his eyes.”
“I talked to him, he’s emo, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Tyrese had been in Serenity’s room, he had heard his parents talking. When they finally went to their bedroom he came out of the room carrying his little sister. “What is Mom’s problem?”
Serenity looked at her big brother. What was he talking about? He was supposed to be getting her a bottle.
Things between Suzanne and Tyrese were rocky, they argued all the time. Their arguments usually ended with Tyrese screaming for her to butt out of his life and slamming his bedroom door.
Serenity stared at her brother, he told her that she was the only one who understood him but she didn’t. Tyrese would sit around and strum his guitar, Tyler would try to talk to him and be ignored, Suzanne would try to talk to him and she would be screamed at. Serenity was worried about her older brother, she hoped that she wouldn’t come home one day and find him swinging in the closet by his neck.
Serenity pushed those dark thoughts to the back of her mind, adults and teenagers had too much drama in their lives for her, she would go to her room and play with her dolls and pray that when she reached her brother’s age she would not have as much issues as he did.
Chapter Ten
Tyler gazed at Marissa nearly in shock. It was as if she had aged decades overnight.
“Tyler?” Marissa stared back at her ex boyfriend. He looked no older than the last time she’d seen him, in fact he looked younger.
“How is it that you are still so young?”
“I uh…” The lifefruit. Tyler and his family had a seemingly endless supply of the glowing fruits, they ate them as snacks and even cooked with them. “I’m writing a book, as soon as it is published you will understand.”
“This is crazy.” Marissa shook her head as he ushered her into the house.
She met Tyler’s teenaged son in the backyard as she was inspecting the pool.
“Who are you?” The boy questioned.
“My name’s Marissa, I used to date your father. You’re that boy who plays the guitar in the park.”
“Yes I am.” Tyler frowned. “There’s no way you dated my father.”
“Isn’t there?” Marissa winked. She’d always thought Agnes was a weird old woman, but now she knew that the Crumplebottoms had a big secret. “Maybe you should ask your parents how they defied the laws of nature like that, your mother used to be older than both of us.”
Tyrese watched as the old woman went back into the house, his mind was racing with all kinds of thoughts. The old woman said that she used to be around the same age as his parents, but that was impossible. Then another thought occurred to him, if Marissa noticed how odd it was for his parents to remain ageless, then other people round town must have noticed as well, what were the people of Sunset Valley saying about the Crumplebottoms?
Chapter Eleven
“I wrote a new song, would you like to come over to my house sometime this weekend? I’m sick of Mom going on and on about my antisocial behavior.”
The two girls, Anissa Sekemoto and Lyndsay Floyd grinned. When Tyrese told them about his mother’s constant nagging, they had offered to come over to his house so she could see that he did in fact have friends, however he kept turning them down, as if he had something to hide.
Serenity was completely different from her brother; she and her best friend Diane had regular weekend sleepovers. This one was particularly special because it was Serenity’s birthday. Her house had become crazy, what with her mother and brother constantly going at each other.
“I can’t believe they’re talking about that, I’m so embarrassed.” Tyrese murmured to Lyndsay.
“He’s not anti-social; Ty is actually a cool guy.” Anissa told Suzanne.
“Really? Are you sure he’s not paying you to hang out with him?” Suzanne questioned.
“Of course I am Mom, I mean, we can totally afford it. Come on you two, let’s go see a movie.”
“Relax dude,” Anissa chuckled and plopped herself down beside Tyrese on the couch. “Your mom isn’t as bad as you say she is.”
“She thought I paid you…”
Anissa looked at her watch, “Oh my gosh! I’m late!”
“Why do you think she always has to run off to be with her boyfriend?” Tyrese grumbled.
Lyndsay rolled her eyes. “Because he’s her boyfriend. That girl is never going to love you, maybe you should stop wasting your time and find somebody who will.”
Chapter Twelve
“Serenity! Where the heck were you? I was worried sick!” Suzanne screeched at her daughter.
“Woah! Chill Moms.” Serenity chuckled. “I was over at the Bachelor’s house.”
“I do not want you around that Kerry boy.” Suzanne sighed; she had just fixed her relationship with one of her teenage children. Since the day she developed breasts Serenity had become trouble. She stayed out late, slacked off in school and pretty much didn’t give a damn about anything.
“Kerry is harmless Mom.”
Serenity was pretty disappointed in Kerry. She usually got any boy she wanted but Kerry was completely devoted to his girlfriend Anissa. His lack of enthusiasm to be with Serenity only increased Serenity’s determination to get him. She decided that to get him would take a lot of calculation and plotting, and she already had the perfect plan.
“He’s not even any good for her.” Tyrese complained to Lyndsay. Her reply was a heavy sigh; Tyrese could go on and on about Anissa and how he was better for her than Kerry was.
“And she’s rude too; she was supposed to be here to do her homework with us…”
“Will you shut up?” Lyndsay shouted and rested her forehead against her fist. “I’m sick of hearing you bitch about Anissa and Kerry! Why don’t you just give up on her huh? She’s never going to love you.”
“She does, she just doesn’t want to leave Kerry.” Lyndsay blinked, it was pointless. “She’s my soul mate Lyndsay, nobody could ever love me like her.”
“But…she doesn’t…” Lyndsay shook her head. “There are other girls out there who adore you.”
“Like who?”
“Uh…Diane.”
“My little sister’s friend?” Tyrese laughed, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What are you doing for your birthday?” Serenity asked her brother a few weeks later.
“Nothing.”
“You’re just going to sit at home?”
“Yeah pretty much.”
“You suck Tyrese.” Serenity stood up as the bus stopped in front of their house. “Diane is coming over.”
“Diane’s always coming over.”
Serenity read her brother’s reaction to the news, this would not do. The Crumplebottom kids got off the bus and went into their house.
A half hour later, Diane met Serenity on her porch. “What did he say when you told him I was coming over?” Diane asked excitedly.
Serenity turned her back to her friend for dramatic effect. “He couldn’t care less. Dee, you need to step your game up. I need my brother to fall in love with you. Don’t you want my brother to love you?”
“Yes Serenity. You know I do.”
“Good, then talk to him the next time you see him.”
“Uh Serenity, why do you need him to love me?”
Serenity rolled her eyes. “Because it’s the only way to get Anissa to want him. She’s a jealous bitch, and for me that’s a good thing.”
Diane did as she was told; she always did what Serenity told her to do. Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest when Tyrese walked into the office that night.
“Hey Diane.” He mumbled.
“Tyrese?”
“Yeah.”
“Umm…” She tapped her fingers together, “Are you having a good birthday?”
“I guess.” He took a seat beside her. “Why are you still here anyway? Serenity’s asleep.”
“I’m ah…actually, here to…see you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Daddy!” Serenity moaned, she had been sitting on the floor for nearly three hours. Her parents had finally decided to crack down on her lack of work. Tyler had gone to the school and found out all the work that Serenity was lacking, he came home with a box filled with books and a flash drive of recorded lessons.
The next morning found another one of Tyler’s children catching up on work. Tyrese had completely changed his dreams, he decided that music wasn’t for him; instead he was going to become a star athlete. After all, the only thing that Kerry had and he didn’t was a nice body.
Besides swimming in their pool Tyrese had never done any serious working out. His muscles were screaming for him to stop but he was determined to achieve a new level of sexiness.
Meanwhile, something was happening inside the house. Suzanne had woken up looking years older than she did when she had gone to bed. Crow’s feet lined the corners of her mouth and eyes and her hair had developed some gray.
“Tyler!” She screamed.
Suzanne found Tyler outside. “What the hell is happening to…” She paused. Tyler’s low cut hair had gone completely gray. “Tyler what’s happening to us?”
Tyler shrugged. “We’re beginning to look our age.”
“How can you be so calm about this? What’s causing this?”
Tyler bent and picked up the morning paper. “Maybe it’s because we haven’t eaten any lifefruit in a while. Did you expect us to beat Father Time forever?”
“How are we going to explain this to people? We look like we’ve aged thirty years.”
“Suzanne, relax. Just embrace it.”
Suzanne took a deep breath, she felt better than she looked so maybe it wasn’t anything to worry about. She decided that if Tyler wasn’t freaking out, then she shouldn’t. Although, her husband didn’t look nearly as bad as she did.
“Hey Serenity.” Diane greeted her friend.
“Look, I had to see you.” Serenity’s eyebrows knitted together.
“Why are you so happy?”
“Because your brother is finally starting to notice me.”
“Oh…that’s good I guess.” Serenity exhaled heavily. “I’m not making any progress with Kerry. You need to be more upfront about your wanting Tyrese.” She leaned in close to Diane.
“I don’t care if you have to stick your hand down his pants when Anissa is around, just do it.”
Diane’s head jerked up, “Oh crap! There’s a cop coming this way.”
“Serenity Crumplebottom, come with me.” The policewoman grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the waiting car.
“Let go of me!” Serenity screamed and struggled in the woman’s grip.
“No can do. Your mother sent me.”
Serenity was furious. “Are you freakin’ serious?” She couldn’t believe Suzanne would have her embarrassed like that.
“Apparently you are out past your curfew.”
“So what? I’m nearly grown.”
“But you’re not grown yet.”
Serenity ranted the whole drive to her house, so much so that the female cop had a giant headache by the time she pulled up in front of the Crumplebottom house.
“I can’t believe you did that to me.” Serenity shouted at her mother as she hopped out of the car. “I’m never speaking to you again!”
Suzanne stood in shock, she and her daughter always had arguments but never before had Serenity hurt her so with her words. She was sick and tired of the girl always sneaking out of the house, anything could happen to a fifteen year old girl outside at night alone.
The next morning Suzanne tried to speak to her daughter but Serenity was still giving her the silent treatment.
“Serenity, you have to understand that you can’t just do whatever you want.”
“Why are there so many rules for me huh? Do you know that Anissa slept here last night?”
Suzanne blinked dumbly, “I did not know that, no.” She shook her head, “That’s different, Tyrese is a grown man.”
“What about morals and ethics?” Serenity shot and went back into the house.
“I’ll see you later?” Tyrese whispered to Anissa, he didn’t know that his little sister had already dropped the bomb.
“Well good morning Anissa.” Suzanne crept up on them as Tyrese was sneaking Anissa out through the front door.
“Mom?”
“It happened again didn’t it?” Suzanne asked, vowing that she would avoid mirrors for the rest of her life.
Thanks Amy, there's an interesting bit of twists and turns in this one, but it's not as well written as the summer legacy thingy I started eariler
Thanks Jo. I posted the next couple chapters since I've got them already. Oh and I've changed the story's name